Thursday, April 12, 2012

Bring it on…


I’ve been thinking about how many ways the Enemy tries to prevent or discourage us in obeying God’s call for our family to GO…to Guatemala. Sometimes, I take it as a personal challenge…like, what are you going to throw at us now?
Reagan, just hours after we arrived in Guat.
I was remembering how very difficult it was to have our 2 and 4 yr. olds with us while visiting Guatemala for their first time in March. For some reason, this memory sticks out in my mind from our trip along with my being sick most of our time more than all the great things about it. We were leaving Guat. at the airport, taking our shoes off and putting them and our backpacks in the tubs to run through security when Reagan pulls out his typical 2-year-old “game” of not-going-to-cooperate-with-anyone. He takes off under the guide ropes just-out-of-range to be grasped in front of an awful lot of on-lookers anticipating what exactly these frantic parents with seven kids were going to do about their youngest escapee. I took after him immediately, barefooted. Of course, he stops and waits to see which way I was going to go. I knew if I chased him, he’d run in the opposite direction…causing a bigger scene than we already had going for us. By then, Britt was there and we practically had him trapped. He continued to giggle at this game he had delightfully started. I commanded he “Come”. Britt commanded him to “COME”. I’m sure by now he could hear the panic in our voices and frustration through our gritted teeth. But we had him trapped enough that Britt was able to out-manuever him and pulled his not-so-delighted-self to him and hovered close to the now SCREAMING child’s face…trying to convey to the two-year-old the seriousness of the matter.
Morgan, after a childish accident.

Not long after this, Britt and I decided we were very glad that our first experience in Guatemala was without  kids. We very well might not have heard God when he whispered in our ears, “I want you to GO”.

Not all of the Enemy’s attempts to prevent or discourage us are through physical means as in the picture of us trying to work in Guatemala with two pre-schoolers wearing us down. Probably more so are emotionally minded…bringing it on through my own thought process…feelings of inadequacy. I came home in March realizing how I was NOT cut out for this new task God was handing me.

I don’t do well with people. Really. I mean, I feel inadequate dealing with people. Actually, maybe it’s more so my peers. Britt is the people person. He does awesome with people in a way that truly amazes me. I do love kids. You might think that because I have so many. But it’s not so much my own that I’m talking about. Oh, don’t get me wrong. Of course, I love my kids. But my love for kids is usually stirred by their great need and their strong desire to learn. Take for example my little fourth grader in Awana. Last night she told me about her family life…as if it’s normal to have 5 step-sibblings all from different boyfriends or girlfriends of her biological parents. Off-the-subject, but I love this little gal. A few weeks ago Britt did a little mini-presentation to the 3rd-6th grade Awana clubbers on our trip to Guatemala. He told about the school/feeding center we’re building and in general what we will be doing. When I took my little gals back to listen to their memory work, both of their eyes were huge and had a million questions all-at-once. I couldn’t keep up with them. Rosa (her mother is from Guatemala originally), was so anxious to know all the details that they were sure Mr. Harman must not have included in his info. My heart bulged at their eagerness and curiosity.

These little reminders were not what was going through my mind when we got back from Guat. though. It was the picture in my head of Gina bending over, touching and softly talking to these needy Guatemalan children. It was the picture of her talking with and then praying with a mother who is four months pregnant with her fifth child and not knowing how in the world they would feed this new life, let alone the other four kids and herself. I was scared. As I watched these scenes, my fear grew. I do not pray in front of people. Well, I do with my kids. But, that’s it. Yikes! Is this what You want me to do, GOD? I can’t! Please, God. Tell me that’s not what you are bringing me to Guat. to do.

Up until last week, my inadequacies weighed heavy on my heart. But then God started bringing all these reminders my way. It seemed like everything I read was shouting, “God does not call the equipped. He equips the called.” A whole chapter I read to the kids from Kisses from Katie spoke just of this very thing. I wept. Right in front of the kids…they’re used to it and were warned before I started that book. Why does God ask us to do things we don’t think we can do? Of course, so He can show us His awesomeness in using my inadequateness to accomplish His purpose so that He might be greater glorified.
Dr. Carlos stitching Britt up after the Schmidt’s oven exploded. 

There have been many more ways that the Enemy has tried to prevent or discourage our set course. However, he must not realize who he’s dealing with. Britt and I are both very strong-willed and I am rather stubborn (not the best quality to pass on to my kids). If he thinks he can overcome us, he may as well not waste his time. We have God standing in front of us…guiding us…His angels surrounding us. Obviously. Or this Guatemala thing wouldn’t be a thing

1 comment:

  1. I love this!! You have much to teach me... I hesitate to say 'bring it on!' ; )

    ReplyDelete